Brecheen, Sykes Want Common Core Moratorium

Senators Josh Brecheen and Anthony Sykes filed an amendment to Senate Bill 1764 that will address the growing concern with Common Core education standards.

The amendment to SB 1764:

Orders the State Board of Education to remove alignment with the K-12 Common Core State Standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

Prohibits Oklahoma from entering into any agreement, memorandum of understanding or contract with any federal agency or private entity which in any way cedes or limits state discretion or control over the establishment, development, review or amendment of academic content standards, teaching standards, student assessments or student data in the public school system.

Establishes the Local Curriculum Standards Pilot Program. The purpose of the Pilot Program shall be to allow experimentation of curriculum standards as long as they meet or exceed Oklahoma state curriculum standards, thus allowing parents and local school boards broader control over student learning.

“It’s time that Oklahoma’s legislators respond to their constituents and address Common Core’s aim at our children,” said Sykes, R-Moore. “Let’s answer the call by Oklahomans and well-studied conservatives across the nation who correctly point out that we have ceded state control to out-of-state interest groups. Addressing the statutes may not be enough. The State Department of Education’s Administrative Rules need to be repealed.”

“There are too many unknowns concerning the rigor, impact and implementation costs of the Common Core standards for our state to continue unabated,” said Brecheen, R-Coalgate. “Massachusetts is a state known for leading the nation in educational attainment, and they along with many other states, are now back pedaling on Common Core over concerns that the standards are lacking. With ample warning signs and our children’s involvement in this grand experiment, I believe common sense is to apply the brakes on Common Core.”

THANK YOU! We don’t want Oklahoma’s kids to be COMMON with Common Core. It is sickening that special interests are pushing developmentally inappropriate items on our kids to try to get them to be worker drones for the workforce. Oklahoma’s kids deserve better and SHAME on those who authored this bill to slip it into law to begin with. Obamacare – the bill was signed before it was read. Common Core – was voted for by legislators before the “standards” were even written. Fix the mess. Now. Thank you Senator Sykes and Senator Brecheen and ALL of the Senators and House Members who will demonstrate by voting for this bill that they they care for Oklahoma’s kids and believe they should still be able to pursue their OWN American dream – not the niche that big business needs to fill (and for those of you waivering. Don’t. Support the bill. The grassroots – who are Oklahoma kid’s PARENTS – is very informed on this issue.)

Edmond Voter, 10 March, 2014

THANK YOU for listening to the thousands and thousands of parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. who have been screaming for 4 years that Common Core is NOT the solution!

I hope everyone will thank these 2 brave men who care that our children’s education is not taken over by the federal government. We don’t need “Obama Core” any more than we need Obamacare!

Jenni White, 11 March, 2014

Restore Oklahoma Public Education applauds Senators Sykes and Brecheen for their desire to listen to Oklahoma parents and do what is best for Oklahoma children.

Over the years, Oklahomans have made clear their overwhelming support for local control of education. As Common Core has been implemented to greater degree in Oklahoma public schools this year, we have seen teachers, parents and school board members alike decry the removal of local control these standards present.

Oklahoma has had standards for decades. In fact, these standards – PASS – were declared by the Fordham Institute (Common Core Supporters) to be BETTER in many ways than Common Core. In addition, PASS were NOT placed in state law, but in school code. This allowed independent school districts to make choices about how best to apply those standards to their individual district for the betterment of their students through the interventions of school boards and parents.

It is clear that, despite the push of special interest groups such as the State Chamber of Commerce and Stand For Children through expensive glossy mailers and state-blanketing robo calls, the voices of individual, unfunded parents are being heard! Just last night, an amendment was filed to Speaker of the House, Jeff Hickman’s bill (HB 3399), containing very similar language to that of SB1764.

None of the rapidly rising concern regarding Common Core is surprising, however. Just as The Affordable Health Care Act was passed before it was read, Common Core was passed before it was written. We’ve all watched, with great frustration the botched roll-out of the AHCA. How could Common Core be any different? Once the ‘state’ removes such personal issues as health care and education from control of the individual, chaos naturally ensues.

[…] Public Education sent this update – “An amendment filed to SB1764 late yesterday by Senators Sykes and Brecheen, will stop Common Core state standards in Oklahoma and return Oklahoma education to the control of […]

Josh Flores, 12 March, 2014

Just to clarify, Massachusetts has not withdrawn from the Common Core State Standards initiative.

Also, teachers/districts can implement the standards with no additional cost than what they already budget for professional development. They can use any number of free resources and materials that were not previously available.

[…] Public Education sent this update earlier – “An amendment filed to SB1764 late yesterday by Senators Sykes and Brecheen, will stop Common Core state standards in Oklahoma and return Oklahoma education to the control of […]

[…] Oklahoma Public Education sent this update—“An amendment filed to SB 1764 late yesterday by Senators Sykes and Brecheen, will stop Common Core state standards in Oklahoma and return Oklahoma education to the control of […]